Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-11
DAILY HERALD.
FRUIT INTERESTS.
George w. Meade's Views ON the
Eastern Market.

George w. Meade'S views on the
Eastern Market.
Mr.. George w. Meade returned
yesterday from visit to the Eastern
cities, and principally to Washington,
where he went as delegate to inter
view the Interstate Commission. He
represented the San Francisco Board
of Trade, and his mission was in rela-
ton to the "long and short haul''
clause of the Interstate Commerce
law. Mr.. Meade was seen yesterday
by a HERALD representative, and he
stated that his interview with the
Commission was very pleasant. He
had gone to Washington in the inter-
est principally of the fruit growers of
the State, and since his absence the
matter of the 'long and short" clause
of the act has been decided so as to
leave the power of high or low rates
to the railroads. He was sat
isfed, however, that such ar
rangements would be made
with the railroad companies as would
enable the fruit crop to be moved east
ward at reasonable rates. Without
reasonable rates of freight there would
be loss to fruit-growers on the crop
this year, and the fruit interest of the
State was growing to be one of the
most important. He anticipated such
arrangements as would enable the
crop to be placed on all the Eastern
markets. During his visit East he
found that California fruit was grow
ing very rapidly in favor and the de-
mand was increasing to such an ex-
tent that he thought the most of the
fruit would be disposed of in this way.
So far as he was able to observe there
is great California boom in progress
i'm the Eastern cities, and he thought
that during the season at least 150, 900
people would cross the continent, Cali
fornia bound. One railroad company,
with the officers of which he
had an interview, stated that
all their rolling-stock had been
engaged for the travel this way
this season. This was only one straw
to show which way the wind is about
to blow.
Mr.. Meade says that from informa-
tion gathered at the branches of his
house, Geo. w. Meade q Co. at San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Clara
and Fresno, he has reason to believe
that the pack of raisins this year will
amount to 100000 boxes against
100000 last year. In addition to raj
sins the balance of the fruit crop will
be very large throughout the State.
Already Mr.. Meade is sending car
load of sun dried, bleached apricots
east, and this fruit in particular is at
tracing more than an ordinary
amount of attention. 1t is fruit
which, until recent years, was known
but little of in the East. but is now in
great demand as the h!pments prove.
The honey crop is lab, to prove a
trife short this year, but Mr.. Meade
thinks that the shartage will probably
be for the best, owing to the low
prices which have prevailed
during the last two years.
The nut crop will be above the aver
age, and some orchards have already
been sold in their entirety. Mr.. Meade
thinks that it is fast becoming the GUS
tom to do away with the commission
business in fruit. Growers, as gen.
eral rule, prefer to sell their crops on
the trees, thus avoiding the payment
of commissions. In many instances
the growers only send to market when
they cannot sell on the trees. 1t is
the same way in relation to dried
fruit. The grower prefers to sell his
fruit green, but if the market is over
loaded and fair prices cannot be OBJ
tanned, the grower dries in preference
to selling at a losing rate. Mr.. Meade
states that he intends to handle large
portion of the orange crop this season,
and he has been working for the ben
eft of this county and section during
his entire trip in the East.